"Cara was a vibrant, intelligent, and exceptional young woman who was a proud advocate for women's education and a talented news anchor at SNJ Today. She exemplified the values of the Miss America Organization, and it has been a privilege having her as a part of the Miss America family," the pageant said in a statement.

The 24-year-old brought her Birthday Book program to former Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande's Young Women’s Leadership Institute, a program designed to mentor and guide young women to be leaders.

McCollum worked with a group to make sure that first- and second-grade Asbury Park students got a book on their birthdays.

"She facilitated the girls wrapping those books and getting those books over to Asbury Park," Casagrande told New Jersey 101.5.

She said books for this year have already been delivered, so the program will live on.

"Cara had an extraordinary heart for service that continued even after she left her Miss New Jersey post. Being in her presence was really a privlege for anyone," Casagrande said. Casagrande said that after taking classes at Princeton University during the week she'd come to Asbury Park on Saturday "and was such an inspiration" for the Leadership students.

The Birthday Book was an extension of McCollum's platform of literacy for the Miss America pageant. The Birthday Book Project provides brand new, gift-wrapped books to kindergarteners through fifth graders for their birthdays to promote the idea that reading is a gift.

McCollum left behind a body of work that pays tribute to her many talents. She worked as a journalist for SNJ today. She enjoyed singing — a talent expressed in a video shared by friends and family Monday, in which she performed the fitting "The Cup Song," anchored by the lyrics "You're going to miss me when I'm gone."